Edward m



. (N0 Modem E. M. BENTLEY.

ELECTRIC RAILWAY TROLLEY.

No. 584,918. Patented June 22,1897.

nnnnAnnAnAJLAA IFIIIIIIIIHIIL EDIVARD M. BENTLEY, OF NEvV YORK, N. Y.

ELECTRIC-RAILWAY TROLLEY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 584,918, dated June 22,1897. Application filed June 4, 1896. Serial No. 594,201. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD M. BENTLEY, a citizen of the United States,residing at New York city, New York, have invented a cer-, tain new anduseful Improvement in Electric- Railway Trolleys, of which the followingis a specification, reference being made to the ac companying drawings,in which Figure l is a side elevation of the trolley I have invented.Fig. 2 is an end elevation thereof, and Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectionof the contact-roller.

My invention in general consists of an inclined arm supported on the caron a transverse axis and upheld at a definite normal angle by anupwardly-pressing spring. To the outer end of this arm is .pivoted alight fram e'carrying at its extremity a long transverse contact-rolleradapted to bear on the under side of the conductor and receive thecurrent therefrom. This frame has an upwardly-pressing spring and also asecond contact-roller at its base, which comes into action at pointswhere the conductor'is so low as to be outside of the range of play ofthe first contact-roller, the latter being designed to operate onlyunder the ordinary variations in level of the conductor.

The trolley as a whole may be constructed in such manner that it can bereversed and locked so as to trail in either direction; but I prefer tomake only the end section or frame reversible.

By the described construction it is unnecessary to make the trolleymovable laterally, since the length of the roller is such as to providefor any lateral inequalities in the position of the conductor withrelation to the car, while it is equally unnecessary to provideadelicate spring-support for the whole weight of the trolley, since theframe and roller are light enough to be upheld against the conductor bya light spring and has not the inertia to make the action of the springsluggish.

Referring to the drawings, A is a low base on top of the car in which ispivotedon a transverse axis the lower end of the trolleyarm B. Aplate-spring O is fastened at one end to the base A and at its other endbears upward against the under side of a projection D from the lower endof arm B, in which projection is a friction-roller E. The part of arm Bbelow the pivot is so shaped as to bear against the base A when the armrevolves beyond a given angle and form a stop therefor, so that theupward movement of the arm is thereby limited.

On the outer end of arm B, which is of substantial dimensions, is asmall turn-table on which rests a head F, forming bearings for the shaftG. This shaft together with the parallel side arms K make up the frameor end section above referred to, and two contact-rollers I and J arejournaled in the arms K. A spring H is coiled around the shaft G andtends to hold the frame in a vertical position when the contact-rolleris free from the conductor and to press the roller upward against theunder side of the conductor when the device is in its operatingposition.

A slot in head F and a radial pin K, projecting from shaft G through theslot, serve to limit the movement of the frame, so that when it isdepressed to a horizontal position the conductor will bear on bothrollers I and J, and a further depression in the level of the conductorwill cause the arm B to move clownward against the pressure of spring 0.The roller J will not be permitted to come in contact with any part ofthe structure and have 2 its rotation interfered with. The rollers willpreferably be made hollow and have their walls made thicker at thecenter, where the wear is greatest, as shown in Fig. 3.

For reversing the end section a cord M is provided, which is attached toa latch L, pivoted to head F and engaging a notch in the stationary partof the turn-table, and passes thence from said latch L to an eye in theouter end of one or both of the bars K and from that point extends downto the rear platform of the car in the usual manner. By means of thiscord the end section can be simultaneously unlatched, depressed, androtated, while after reversal the latch will antomatically fall into itsnotch and relock the frame.

Although I prefer to have the inclined arm B provided with a stop forlimiting its upward movement, this is not essential, as the stop may beomitted and the arm allowed to stand vertically so long as the roller Ionly is in contact with the conductor. In that case the spring 0 will beduplicated on the other side of the arm, so that it may be depressedequally well in either direction.

hat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of a trolley-arm fixed laterally with relation to thecar and normally held at a constant elevation, a pivoted end sectionthereon, a spring acting to move the end section with relation to saidarm in an upward direction against the conductor, a fastening betweenthe end section and trolley-arm, holding the former against lateralmovement relatively to the latter, and a contact-roller on the said endsection having a length equal to the lateral deviation of the conductorin both directions from a central position.

2. The combination with a pivoted trolleyarm normally held at a constantelevation of a pivoted, inclined end section thereon, said arm and endsection being each provided respectively with an individualupwardlypressing tension device and held against lateral movement and acontact-roller in the said end section having a length equal to thelateral deviation of the conductor in each direction from a centralposition.

3. The combination with a pivoted trolleyarm of a pivoted and reversibleend section therefor having an upwardly-pressing tension device and alatch interposed between said end section and trolley-arm for holdingthe former in either position.

4. The combination with pivoted arm B provided with a stop for limitingits upward movement, of a movable end section thereon adapted to bearagainst the under side of the conductor and make contact therewith.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 25th day of May,1896.

EDWARD M. IHJNJLEY.

\Vitnesses:

L. T. SHAW, L. ]I. Lvrmnn.

